VPA, Education ministry to launch peace gardens in schools

The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth and other partners will launch peace gardens and drumming activities in schools across Jamaica to foster peace and environmental stewardship.

The initiative will be officially launched today at Kingston High School in observation of International Day of Peace, which is celebrated around the world on September 21 and will be observed under the theme ‘Cultivating a Culture of Peace’.

Dr Elizabeth Ward, chair of the VPA, said Jamaica faces significant challenges relating to crime and violence, which in recent times have spilled over into the schools and having an adverse effect on the children and school environments.

Referring to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Youth, she said that over a 12-month period (January 2022 to 2023), 55 critical incidents involving violence were reported across 50 different schools, which has highlighted the severity of the situation.

“These incidents ranged from gang violence and physical assaults to robberies and other disruptive behaviours. The prevalence of such violence interrupts learning, negatively impacts students and educators, and poses a significant threat to the broader community’s well-being,” she said.

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Dr Ward underscored that the initiative aims to address issues around areas within the local landscape, including all types of violence, prevalence and use of small arms, and trafficking in person, all contributing to violence and instability.

“By integrating peace gardens in schools, we aim to catalyse prevention, mitigation, and response activities. The initiative will create safe, restorative spaces within schools and serve as physical and symbolic representations of non-violence, providing students and staff with the environment and tools necessary to resolve conflicts peacefully and engage in introspection,” she said.

NATIONAL COMPETITION

The initiative will be implemented in the form of a national competition, encouraging schools across Jamaica to participate in the development of Peace Gardens. The competition will open on September 20 and close on October 11. Schools will compete to create the most impactful and well-maintained safe, clean green spaces, with their efforts being evaluated on criteria such as environmental stewardship, community involvement, creativity, and the effectiveness of the gardens as peaceful spaces. This competitive element has spurred greater engagement, driving schools to continuously improve their gardens and the associated peace-building activities, she explained.

The initiative will target approximately 100 schools across all seven regions of the Ministry of Education and Youth, focusing on institutions with higher rates of violence or those located in vulnerable communities. The Safety and Security in Schools Unit of the Ministry of Education and Youth will play a critical role in coordinating efforts and monitoring progress.

The Ministry of Education and Youth and the Early Childhood Commission will provide institutional support and integrate the initiative into the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Intervention Support (SWPBIS) framework, along with incorporating the following units: guidance and counselling, health and family life education, deans of discipline and restorative justice.

Other supporting partners include the Ministry of National Security, which will support the deployment of School Resource Officers to targeted schools, along with the implementation of activities for Trafficking-in-Persons and Small Arms Control.

The Forestry Department, the National Environment and Planning Agency and Jamaica 4 H Clubs are also onboard and will supply seedlings and technical assistance for garden development, supported by Trees that Feed.

First launched in 2018, the initiative has successfully engaged over 100 schools in creating Peace Gardens, dedicated spaces that not only enhance environmental awareness but also served as sanctuaries for conflict resolution and personal reflection. Building on this success, the 2024 initiative aims to expand its reach and deepen its impact through strategic partnerships and a monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework.